AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION ON HOW IPOB AGITATIONS AFFECT POLITICAL STABILITY IN NIGERIA

Celestina Ekene Chukwudi¹; Daniel Eseme Gberebvie²; Ugochukwu David Abasilim³* David Imhonopi⁴

¹Doctoral Candidate, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria, ekenefinian@yahoo.com
²Professor, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria, daniel.gberevbie@covenantuniversity.edu.ng
³Doctoral Candidate, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria, ugochukwu.abasilim@covenantuniversity.edu.ng
⁴Associate Professor, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria, david.imhonopi@covenantuniversity.edu.ng
*Corresponding author

Abstract

In this study, an effort was made to empirically investigate the effects of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) agitations for self-determination on Nigerian political stability. Some factors as the methods used in agitations and the actions of the government with regards to the group agitations have been identified as what can result in political instability in the country. Group theory is adopted in this study to analyze the IPOP group in their agitations for self-determination. Survey research design is used in this study. The instruments applied in this study are qualitative (interview) and quantitative (questionnaire) in nature to obtain relevant data from the IPOB group, and some members of the society. The areas of study are selected locations from six states in Nigeria with the addition of The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja. In Diaspora, four locations were covered to capture the existence of IPOB groups and their activities. They are South Africa, United States of America, London and Malaysia. It was concluded that IPOB agitations greatly affect Nigeria’s political stability. The result showed that the increase in the rate of agitations results in a decrease in the level of political stability. It is then recommended that Nigeria’s federal government should set up a team that will carry out a study on the countries where achievement of self-determination by groups have occurred and countries where it has not succeeded in order to weigh the pros and cons in order to ensure that Nigeria preserves or enhances its political stability.

Keywords: Agitations; Indigenous People of Biafra; Political Instability; Separatist Movements; Nigeria